Experiment no.

Current Transformers

Power System Protection Laboratory

Electric Power and Energy Engineering

Dr. Jamal Thalji

Eng. Mohamad Salameh

Content of experiment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Secondary current of CT as a function of primary current with zero CT burden.

Secondary current of CT as a function of primary current with finite CT burden.
Secondary voltage as a function of CT burden
Current transformer in 3-phase, 3-wire system (no neutral wire)
th
Current transformer in 3-phase, 4-wire system (4 wire is the neutral)
Determination of zero sequence current.

Required equipment:

Current transformer
CO3301-4T

Current transformer (3-phase)

CO3301-4W

Summation current transformer

CO3301-3T

Burden for current transformer

Adjustable power supply

CO5127-1S

Three-phase power quality meter

CO5127-1Z

Digital multimeter

CO3301-3F

Resistive load (3-phase)

SO5148-1L

Set of safety connection cables

Power supply
ST8008-4S
Measuring instruments

Accessories

Theory of current transformer:

Current transformers are used to step down high currents to safe levels which can be measured
more easily and safely.
Current transformers are small devices whose secondary side is practically short-circuited. The
value of the primary current is determined by the consumer on the primary side. Within its
measurement range, the secondary current is proportional to, and in phase with, the primary
current.
The transformer core can be regarded as a constant current source, i.e. the secondary voltage is
dependent on the load. Interrupting the secondary current during operation eliminates the counter
magneto-motive force (mmf). The resultant, excessively high secondary voltages can damage the
transformer's insulation, and the transformer core is driven magnetically into the saturation range.
This leads to high core losses which can thermally damage the transformer.
In 3-phase 3 wire system, number of CTs must be at least 2. This is because I1+I2+I3 = 0.
In 3-phase 4-wire supplies system, number of CTs must be at least 3. This is because
I1+I2+I3+In=0.

Part 1:
Secondary current of CT as a function of primary current with zero CT burden.
In this first experiment, we will determine the transformation ratio of current transformer CO33014T with the help of three-phase meter CO5127-1Y. The ST8008-4S will serve as the power source.
With the power supply unit turned off, assemble the circuit as indicated in the layout plan below.
The current transformer's transformation ratio is calculated as follows:
kN = 2.5 A / 1 A =

; steps I1N down to I2N where

Set load CO3301-3F to its left limit (750 ). Slowly increase the voltage on the generator to 150 V.
Check the voltage on the meter. Now change the load to achieve the specified amperages for I 1,
and enter the corresponding values of I2 in the table. Plot the resultant characteristic curve. Only
phase A has been loaded.
2

Note that the experiment is a single phase and not three phase. CT secondary is short circuit by an
ammeter, thus its burden is ideally 0 .

I1 (A)
I2 (A)

0.40

0.80

1.20

1.60

2.00

What is the ratio between the measured currents I1 and I2? The current ratio I1/I2 =
Which of the following statements are correct?
The transformation ratio indicates the maximum output current.
The transformation ratio indicates the minimum output current.
The transformation ratio reflects the ratio between the input and output currents.
The transformation ratio depends on the input current.

Part 2:
Secondary voltage as a function of CT burden.
With the power supply unit turned off, assemble the circuit as indicated in the assembly plan below.
Set the input voltage to 150 VLn and keep current I2Norm at a constant level of 0.5 A for the first
series of measurements. For the second series, set I2Norm = 1 A and keep it constant.
Change the burden from 0 to 10 , and record the resultant values of U2.
Fill out the table below and plot the obtained characteristics.

CT Burden []
U2 [V]
I2=0.5A (fixed)
U2 [V]
I2=1.0A (fixed)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

Which of the following statements are correct?

The characteristics are completely straight, the voltage being determined by the load and
current.
Within its rated power range, a current transformer behaves like a constant current source. As
the load resistance increases, so does the secondary voltage, so that I2 remains constant.
Above a certain power level, the current transformer enters the saturation range, and the
voltage no longer rises linearly with the load resistance.
Because the load resistor becomes too warm at a certain point, the voltage no longer rises
linearly from then on.

Part 3:
Secondary current of CT as a function of primary current with finite CT burden.
In this experiment, we will examine the current transformer's secondary current as a function of the
primary current at different CT burdens. With the power supply unit turned off, assemble the circuit
as indicated in the assembly plan below.
CT1 measures source current with its burden varies from zero up to 10 .
CT2 measures source current with its burden is set to zero, always.
CT3 is not connected.
Power quality meter measures source current using a CT whose burden is set to zero
(S.C. through an ammeter).

Set the specified burdens with the help of multimeter LM2330.

Leave the resistive load initially at its left limit (750 ).
Then turn on the power supply and adjust the voltage to 150 V.
Adjust the resistive load so as to achieve the specified amperages for I2Norm and measure the
corresponding values of I2.
For different values of burden, enter I2 values in the table and plot the resultant characteristics.

I2norm (A)
Burden = 0
Burden = 4
I2 (A) Burden = 6
Burden = 8
Burden = 10

0.10

0.30

0.50

0.70

0.90

1.00

Which of the following statements are correct?

The burden does not influence current I2.
The current is limited by the burden.
Increasing the burden decreases the current.
Increasing the burden raises the current.
The burden is the impedance of the secondary circuit.

Part 4:
Current transformer in 3-phase, 3-wire system (no neutral wire)
In a 3-wire system: IL1 + IL2 + IL3 = 0 (phasor equation). In other words, two known currents can be
used to determine the third current. Consequently, only two current transformers are needed here.
With the power supply unit turned off, assemble the circuit as indicated in the layout plan below.

Adjust the supply voltage to 150 VLn. Set the amperages I1= I2= 1A, and then measure I3. Leaving
the rotary transformer's setting unchanged, interrupt each outer conductor in succession and
measure the resultant values of I1, I2 and I3.

Interruption of
L1
L2
L3

I1 [A]
0

I2 [A]

I3 [A]

0
0

Part 5:
Current transformer circuits in 3-phase, 4-wire system (4th wire is the neutral).
In a 4-wire, 3-phase system, current can flow via the fourth conductor. In the case of unbalanced
loads, each outer conductor therefore needs to be measured with the help of a separate current
transformer. This experiment demonstrates the different responses to balanced and unbalanced
loads. With the power supply unit turned off, assemble the circuit as indicated in the layout plan
below.

Set the load resistance to its left limit (750 ) and adjust the supply voltage to 150 VLn. After that,
reduce R so that a current of 2 A flows through the resistors. Then remove one of the bridging
plugs from the load section to achieve an unbalanced load.

I1 [A]

I2 [A]

Before Interruption
After Interruption

I3 [A]

In [A]

Part 6:
Determination of zero sequence current
The total current I1 + I2 + I3 is measured through a three-phase parallel connection. In 3-wire
systems, the sum of the currents is zero. In 4-wire systems, this makes it possible to determine the
current in the fourth conductor (e.g. neutral conductor N or earth fault).
The method of symmetrical components is used to calculate unbalanced load currents and fault
currents in 3-phase systems. A zero sequence current may occurs in 4-wire systems whose value
[
] , where is the zero sequence current.
is:
This current can also be determined through measurement of the total current. With the power
supply unit turned off, assemble the circuit as indicated in the layout plan next.

Adjust the supply voltage to 150 VLn. Adjust the resistive load so that current I1 = 2 A. Check this
value with three-phase meter CO5127-1Y.
What is the value of the zero sequence current in the case of a balanced load? ..................... A.
Remove just one of the bridging plugs on the resistive load.
What is the value of the zero sequence current in the case of an unbalanced load? ..................... A.
Which of the following statements concerning the zero sequence current are correct?
In the case of unbalanced loads, the zero sequence current is equal to 0.
In the case of balanced loads, the zero sequence current is equal to 0.
The zero sequence current is always 0.
The same current always flows, regardless of which resistor is disconnected.
If all resistors are connected, no current flows through any of them.